Clean up Ikotun, residents beg LAWMA

Some residents of Ikotun in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State have accused Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) of not clearing their.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said there were heaps of refuse in many areas of the community.
NAN also observed that offensive stench was oozing out from the dumps, because of the mounting refuse.
Many passers-by and residents close to the dumps were covering their nostrils so as not to inhale the odour.
Some of them who spoke to NAN urged LAWMA to come and clear the waste, saying it could lead to an outbreak of communicable diseases like cholera.
Mrs Folake Ajayi, a retired nurse, who lives on Ajewole Street, told NAN that the dirty environment could endanger lives if nothing was done as soon as possible.
“It is so disturbing; everywhere is filled with heaps of refuse. Unfortunately, after the Christmas break, the refuse had not been cleared.
“Now the waste generated during the New Year festivities had been added to the heaps, thus increasing the degree of the stench and thus polluting the environment the more.
“If care is not taken, there will be an outbreak of cholera and other airborne diseases in the area,’’ she said.
Also, Chinedu Ekeh, a food vendor on Rasak Tijani Street, told NAN that the absence of the officials of the LAWMA had messed-up the street and the community in general.
“We have never had it so bad like this in the past; for over two weeks now, no LAWMA officials had visited this area to clear the waste, and this had really made everywhere very dirty.
“I have been extra careful by ensuring that my food is well covered and protected from being contaminated by flies.
“I hope the LAWMA officials will come and remove the refuse as soon as possible,’’ Ekeh said.
Another resident of Ajewole, who simply identified herself as Mummy Eli, said she saw a LAWMA’s truck parked somewhere due to a mechanical fault.
“I think the truck broke down, I cannot remember where I saw it. But, I think two weeks is enough for the agency to have made an alternative arrangement.
“Christmas and now New Year festivities had come and gone, LAWMA needs to do something positively and urgently to remove the refuse,’’ she said.
When NAN called the agency, an officer who pleaded for anonymity, said the management was aware of the problem, adding that it was working on it.
The officer, however, apologised to the residents, saying very soon, the agency would come and evacuate the refuse.